Ernest Levert Jr is the founder of the Royal Oak Initiative, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that focuses on developing community through the game of chess. What started as a bi-weekly meetup has grown into a community of chess enthusiasts as well as a chess-based mentoring program, and the Royal Oak Chess Initiative recently signed a lease for a new space in Old Towne East, right across from Upper Cup Coffee where the bi-weekly meetups had been hosted. On this episode, Mike talks with Ernest about how he found his love for chess, how the Royal Oak Initiative came to be, and a whole lot more!